DCNS starts building first warship for Russia in France

Posted On
Wednesday, 30 November 2011 23:43

a

Naval
Industry News - France / Russia

DCNS
starts building first warship for Russia in France

French
shipbuilder DCNS has received advance payment from Moscow under a $1.2-billion
contract and will start the construction of the first warship for the
Russian Navy, the DCNS press service said on Wednesday. The two countries
signed a contract in June on two French-built Mistral class amphibious
assault ships including the transfer of sensitive technology.

“The advance payment was received several weeks ago and work on
the first ship is getting underway,” the service said. “The
first ship will be delivered in 2014 and the second in 2015."

Construction of the second ship should start in several months and will
proceed simultaneously with the first, but will depend on when the full
payment for the first ship is made, a DCNS source said.

A number of Russia's neighbors have expressed concern over the deal,
in particular Georgia and Lithuania.

DCNS Mistral
class used by the French Navy and soon by the Russian Navy
(picture: French Navy)

The Russian military has said it plans to use Mistral
ships in its Northern and Pacific fleets.

Many Russian military and industry experts have questioned the financial
and military sense of the purchase, and some believe that Russia simply
wants to gain access to advanced naval technology that could be used
in the future in potential conflicts with NATO and its allies.
From: Ria Novosti